Ontario Honouring Past and Present Indigenous Veterans

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TORONTO - Today, Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, issued the following statement in recognition of Indigenous Veterans Day:

"Today, on Indigenous Veterans Day, Ontarians are encouraged to take the opportunity to honour and remember the tens of thousands of Indigenous veterans who have helped keep our country safe in times of war and military conflict.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis people have a long and proud history of serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, joining the front lines of every conflict in which Canada has been involved. Indigenous soldiers volunteered in large numbers, leaving their communities and overcoming cultural and linguistic differences to show their commitment to protecting our country.

On this day, we pay tribute to Indigenous veterans who have shaped their communities, like Murray Whetung, the last living World War II veteran from Curve Lake First Nation. After training as an electrician at home, Murray went overseas in 1943 where he set up communications systems for the Canadian Army.

Murray Whetung passed away in 2021, and in honour of his service to Canada and his community, our government created the Murray Whetung Community Service Award for Cadets. This new program recognizes cadets across Ontario who are exemplary members of their communities and demonstrate outstanding volunteerism.

Indigenous Veterans Day recognizes the brave, resilient Indigenous men and women who have served, and their many sacrifices to defend our freedoms.

Lest We Forget."

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